The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-29
Juvenile Rat-Oatohers.
BOYS IN PENNSYLVANIA MINES WHO DIS
COUNT TIE PIED PIER OF nAMELIN.

! BOYS IN PENNSYLVANIA MINES WHO DIS.
COUNT TIE PIED piPER OF nAMELIN.
| [wllKesbarre Letter 70 the Philadelphia News.li
Boys are employed in various occu-
pations in the anthracite coal mines. A
glance at the payroll of any big CON
pany reveals the fact how useful they
are. Run your eye along down the
column hea led Occupation" and every
once in while you see the word ''rat-
catcher" As this is as distinct a
feature of employment as the driver,
slate picker, door-tender and so on, it
excites no particular attention among
those who understand it. The rat
catcher is paid 90 cents day, and his
special duty is to guard the bins where
the feed for the mules is stored against
the invasion of the rodents. The mine
rat is as large as his brother of the
wharf. He subsists upon the refuse of
the feed troughs and the crumbs that
drop from the frugal lunoheons of the
miners. They inhabit all parts Of the
colliery and find their way into the
crevices far beyond the reach of the
miner. They are useful in one way,
however, and for this reason are fed
and prot, cted by many who labor in
the dark and distant chambers of the
subterranean depths. The rat iustinc-
lively knows where crush from above
is to come, and when miner sees them
leaping about him or hears them
scampering off along the gangways to-
ward the shaft he knows something is
wrong and follows them at once. There
are many instances on record where
the rats were first to give warning of
danger from which men have fled in
safety and without which they might
have persisted.
Naturally the professional rat-catch-
er grows fond of his exciting pastime,
and, like the hunter, tries to bag all
the game he can. Recently spirit of
enthusiasm broke out between several
rat-catchers employed in tie Diamond
and Empire collieries, which was kin
died iuto flame by the offer of prize
of S5 to the boy who would slaughter
the most rats in thirty days. "Rat-
Catcher Dick" little red-headed fel-
low not over ten or dozen years old,
had long been recognized as the cham
pion. He is employed in the Empire
and had made record of killing 500
rats in six days. This had never been
beaten. Indeed the only approximate
work had been done by "Bhnky Bill
a twelve-y year old, of the Diamond, who
had record of 27l. When the prize
was offered the boys all set to work
with will. 1t was stipulated that
they were to do the work separately
and unaided. Judges were quietly ap-
pointed to see that the articles of agree
ment were done fairly and carried out.
During the progress of the slaughter
'Dick," of the Empire, was the favcrite
in the pools, "Blinky Bill selling
second. There were other lads in the
contest, but it was generally agreed
that one of these two would carry off
the prize.
AS the days passed the miners got
deeply interested. Even certain sport
ing men in this city paid more or less
attention to the rat. killing contest, and
when the final weeks run was on every
gambler in tom was hacking one of
the boys. News from the Diamond
and Empire was anxiOusly awaited in
some of the saloons each night as to
the count. The reports were very con-
flicting. All sorts of stories were set
ahoat as to the records of 'Dick" and
BILL" Both the lads kept their own
mouths shut close. Nobody could get
word out of either, and nobody really
knew what each was doing. Even the
watchers were in the dark The con-
test closed on Monday night, and great
crowds fiocked into several prominent
sporting places in town to hear the re-
suit The judges gave sworn testimony
of the count. The score for the thirty
days' killing stood as follows: Dick,
2,419; Bill, 1866 an average of
eighty rats day for Dick and sixty
five for Bill. Dicks biggest week was
the last, when he killed no less than
6lS rodents. A careful estimate places
the weight of the rats slaughtered by
Dick at over four tons. A purse was
made up and presented to "Blinky
Bill" Dicks method, it is said, of
catching the rats was by fixing barrels
along their runways and by setting
lines with baited hooks for them. He
is proud of the championship, and an
other match will be arranged soon be-
tween the two boys.
The other lads who entered were
practically out of the race the first week.
The miners who won on little Dick all
Clipped in something for him subse-
quently, and it is said he carried home
to his widowed mother last night near
ly 800.